Social Security - Essay Example

The policy assumptions that direct the present social security was based on anchored in the early days of the United States when the system was introduced.  The situation then differs now and the circumstances for needing social security are now more complex that such policy should be revised.  Contingencies that are needed now are not only confined to retirement or medical emergencies as they used to be but should include contingencies for the ever-changing economy such as sudden unemployment due to economic shock or financial crisis.  In addition, the financial structure of the present social security should also be restructured and should implement fiscal discipline to assure its pensioners that there will be enough funds available to them when they need it.

1. Increased spending for schools and student achievement are commonly linked, though policy analysis does not support this link. Do you think it should? What factors play into this assumption?

It is often thought that increased spending for schools and students’ achievements are commonly linked.  This is under the assumption that increased availability of resources is also tantamount to a higher quality of education (Yamamura, 2011).

School policies however do not align with this assumption that increased funding for school automatically results in a higher quality of education.  While funding and resources are a major factor in determining a higher quality of education, it is only one of the myriad considerations that make up quality education, and policy directions should not be tempted to automatically equate resources to quality.

To achieve quality education, the interplay of many factors should be considered.  True, increased spending will provide the materials needed to facilitate quality education in addition to an increased capacity to pay for teachers’ salaries.  But more than the funding, quality education also requires an effective and responsive curriculum which funding has nothing to do.  Methods of teaching, environment are also least influenced by funding.

This is not to say however that spending in schools should not be increased.  It only meant that in addition to increased spending, efforts should be made on other dimensions of education such as improved curricula, enhanced teacher training among others, to increase the probability of students’ achievements because they would be receiving a quality education.